“We have to shut him up!”: Employee linked to witness in investigation of Rio Councilwoman Marielle Franco’s murder found shot to death

The body of community activist Carlos Alexandre Pereira Maria was found in a car n RIoThe body of community activist Carlos Alexandre Pereira Maria was found in a car in Rio

Note from BW of Brazil: In a few days, it will already have been one month since the brutal murder of Rio Councilwoman Marielle Franco. And while the investigation is ongoing, at the moment, there have still been no arrests connected to the crime. But even with no immediate developments, a few days ago there was another cold-blooded murder that could have a connection. The details surrounding the murder of community activist Carlos Alexandre Pereira Maria is a case in which every angle needs to be analyzed for a few reasons. One, he worked for a Rio councilman who was collaborating in the investigation into Franco’s murder. And two, according to witnesses, one of the murderers screamed that it was necessary to shut Carlos Alexandre up. Hopefully, someone will be able to learn what it was that he was saying that may have led to his murder. Obviously, it is too soon to automatically conclude that Maria was murdered due to a direct connection to the Franco murder, but in Wild, Wild Rio, I wouldn’t be surprised.

Carlos worked for a councilman involved in the investigation of the murder of Councilwoman Marielle Franco

Employee linked to witness in Marielle’s investigation is shot dead in Rio de Janeiro

Reports made to the police indicate that one of the murderers shouted: “Get over there we have to shut him up”

Carlos Alexandre Pereira Maria, a collaborator of councilman Marcello Siciliano (PHS), a witness in the investigation that is investigating the death of slain Rio councilwoman Marielle Franco and her driver Anderson Gomes, was found dead on Sunday night, April 8th. Reports from witnesses to the Police report that one of the murderers shouted: “Get over there we have to shut him up!”. Information is from the O Globo newspaper.

The crime occurred in the Taquara neighborhood, West Zone of Rio de Janeiro, around 8.45pm. One of the lines of investigation is that Carlos was involved with militias, although there is no confirmed motivation. The body of the 37-year-old worker is expected to be released from the Medical Legal Institute (IML) on Monday.

On Wednesday (11), the capital’s Homicide Police will hear relatives of the community leader Carlos, also known as Cabeça. Two people who witnessed the crime have already testified. Carlos Alexandre was at a barbecue in a street known as Boiúna, in Taquara, in the city’s west zone, when two men arrived on a motorcycle, both wearing helmets and black clothes. The passenger got off the motorcycle and shot the victim. All the shots came from a pistol. The body was found inside a car, located by Military Police of the 18th BPM (Jacarepaguá) on Curumau Road.

An assistant of Siciliano said that Maria was a community leader and active with residents of the West Zone. He would pass on demands of people from the periphery to the parliamentarian. The case is being investigated by the 18th Military Police Battalion of Rio.

Last Friday the 6th, Marcello Siciliano testified in the case of the death of Councilwoman Marielle Franco and her driver Anderson Gomes, who were shot to death on March 14. “I was summoned to come here to provide clarifications to help in the line of investigation that they took. All the councilmen were called to come here. I am at your disposal. Marielle was a person that I liked very much,” said the congressman, not advancing any detail.

A team from the capital’s Homicide Police station did an on-the-spot investigation and ascertained the circumstances of the death. One of the lines of investigation is that the crime may be related to the actions of militias – groups formed by former police officers and criminals who charge “protection” fees and control basic services in Rio’s favela slums.

Rio’s secretary of the General Secretariat, General Richard Nunes, is expected to meet with Homicide Police officers on Monday to address the case.

Sought for comment, the councilman Marcello Siciliano lamented the death of his collaborator. “It was with great regret that I received the news of the death of our collaborator Carlos Alexandre Pereira. During the time he was with us, he did everything for his locality and was always available to help where necessary.”

“I sympathize with the pain of family and friends. You can count on me to help in whatever it takes,” he said in a statement.

No one has been arrested

“Who killed Marielle Franco and Anderson Gomes?” – On Saturday, it will be one month since the murders

Almost a month after the death of Councilwoman Marielle Franco and driver Anderson Gomes, no one has been arrested. The investigations are under secrecy. However, according to Homicide Police sources, the investigations found that militiamen were involved in the crime.

Images of the internal and external security circuit of the City Council of Rio de Janeiro were collected by a specialized team. The goal is to identify the people who entered and left from the House in the period.